Latnamard National School
Smithboro, Monaghan
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 85 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 55 girls, 30 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16769H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Latnamard National School is a small rural national school situated in the parish of Aghabog, County Monaghan, operating under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Clogher. The school provides a supportive, community‑focused environment for children from junior infants to sixth class, with a curriculum that follows the Department of Education guidelines and includes a broad range of subjects such as science, music, visual arts, drama, SPHE, PE and Religion. External specialists deliver gymnastics, dance and musical instrument lessons, while Monaghan GAA coaches and the Monaghan Coral Leisure Centre support football and swimming programmes, ensuring a well‑rounded educational experience. The school’s facilities comprise a main building opened in 1985, subsequently expanded with a prefabricated classroom (2008) and a purpose‑built fourth classroom, learning support room and disabled toilet (2013). Outdoor amenities include two playgrounds, a sensory garden, a wild‑flower garden called “The Circle of Seasons”, a village‑role‑play area, a sports pitch (opened by Minister Humphries in June 2022) and extensive walkways. A strong partnership with local groups such as the ICA, Foróige, drama society, badminton and GAA clubs enriches the pupil experience through a variety of extra‑curricular activities, from Cumann na mBunscol competitions to bike safety and KiVa programmes.
History
Latnamard National School is a four‑teacher rural national school under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Clogher in the parish of Aghabog, Co Monaghan. The present building was opened in 1985 as a three‑teacher school, replacing an earlier school that had served the community since 1928. A prefabricated classroom was added in 2008 and, following a Department of Education grant approved in April 2012, a major extension was completed in 2013, providing a fourth classroom, a learning support room and disabled toilet facilities. The school’s outdoor areas feature a large playground, a smaller playground, a sensory garden, a village role‑play area, a sports pitch and the “Circle of Seasons” wild‑flower garden; the sensory area and pitch were officially opened by Minister Humphries in June 2022. The school has long been a hub for community groups, including the parish council, ICA, Foróige, drama society, badminton club and GAA club.
Applying to Latnamard National School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
View Latnamard National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Latnamard National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about Latnamard National School
How many pupils attend Latnamard National School?
Latnamard National School has 85 pupils enrolled, 55 girls and 30 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Latnamard National School a DEIS school?
No. Latnamard National School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of Latnamard National School?
Latnamard National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.